Marshawn Lynch Suspended 3 Games

Marshawn Lynch recently got in more trouble with the NFL when he was arrested on a concealed firearm charge. It was later revealed that Lynch also had marijuana on his person at the time, although no charges were filed.

Athletes in Trouble With the Law

Feb. 11: Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch was arrested on a weapons charge. Police said they found a loaded firearm in a Mercedes-Benz occupied by Lynch and two other men. Lynch has now been suspended by the NFL. Click through the gallery to see more athletes in trouble with the law.

David Duprey, AP

April 5: Free agent Reggie Williams was charged with possession of a controlled substance after cops allegedly found cocaine in his back pocket.

Al Messerschmidt, Getty Images

April 5: Los Angeles Clippers forward Zach Randolph was arrested for investigation of drunken driving.

Rocky Widner, NBAE/Getty Images

April 3: Gigi Becali, left, the owner of Steaua Bucharest, was arrested on charges of kidnapping three men who allegedly stole his car earlier this year.

Bogdan Maran, MEDIAFAX FOTO/AP

March 25: Former Michigan State and Lions wide receiver Charles Rogers, here in a file photo, was sent to prison after a probation violation.

Carlos Osorio, AP

March 21: Raiders offensive tackle and Super Bowl XXXVII champ Cornell Green was arrested on a domestic violence charge in Florida. Tampa police say Green struck the mother of his two children with an aluminum mop handle.

Getty Images

March 20: Iowa defensive end Adrian Clayborn was charged with assault causing bodily injury for allegedly punching a cabbie.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

March 16: Former Lakers star Norm Nixon was arrested for investigation of drunken driving after cops allegedly smell alcohol coming from his car.

Frederick M. Brown, Getty Images

March 16: Nets forward Sean Williams was arrested for suspicion of disorderly conduct and felony criminal mischief after an incident at a cell phone store.

Ray Amati, NBAE / Getty Images

March 14: A car driven by Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte Stallworth struck and killed a 59-year-old pedestrian in Miami. Stallworth now faces DUI manslaughter charges.

Stephan Savoia, AP

Because this was Lynch's second run-in with the law in the past 12 months, it was more or less assumed that the Bills' running back would be suspended by the NFL. And now it's official, according to a report from ESPN's Michael Smith, Roger Goodell will suspend Lynch for the first three games of the 2009 season.

Smith reports, via sources, that an announcement is expected as early as Thursday afternoon and that Lynch will appeal the suspension.

None of this is surprising, of course. In today's NFL, if you have two criminal brushes in the span of 365 days, you can expect a suspension, particularly if those charges involve the phrases "striking a female pedestrian with a car" and "carrying a concealed weapon."

For the Bills, this news couldn't come at a worse time; they're focusing on shoring up other areas in this month's NFL Draft and yet, suddenly find themselves with one suspended running back and another member of the backfield -- Fred Jackson -- unhappy with his contract situation.

In other words, Lynch's troubles might not totally alter the 2009 NFL Draft, but his suspension certainly isn't bad news for prospects like Beanie Wells, Knowshon Moreno and Donald Brown, who are hoping to see their first-round value boosted.